(SPEEDWAY 1)

POOLE promoter Matt Ford has called on his team to give more to the club’s supporters as they prepare to face champions Wolverhampton at Wimborne Road tonight (Wednesday).
The Pirates have gone on an unwanted losing sequence of five successive home defeats, but remain in the play-off places thanks to Somerset’s home draw on Monday.
Wolves, who are still without Sam Masters due to a broken collarbone, can return to second position should they also secure an away win in Dorset – depending on Belle Vue’s result at Rye House.
Ford said: “It just hasn't been happening for us of late for whatever reason. All too frequently we have not been strong enough from the starts and have continually made things difficult for ourselves.
“I believe that our sponsors and fan base deserve better than what we have been serving up and we are running out of meetings to try and prove ourselves.
“We are only too aware of how strong Wolverhampton are and are under no false illusions, but we have shown that they are beatable and if ever we needed three league points it is now.”
Wolves reserve Nathan Greaves said: “We’ve been to Poole a couple of times already this year, so we should have a good idea of what to expect.
“They’ve lost a few home meetings recently, so hopefully we can take advantage of that and make sure they lose another one.
“It’s going to be tough but we’ll try to get off to a good start and come away with a good result.”

(SPEEDWAY 2)

RYE House finally get to put their new-look team on track at home as they host second-placed Belle Vue at Hoddesdon tonight (Wednesday).
The Rockets are five points behind Poole as they chase a play-off place, having given their hopes a major boost with their thumping win at Wimborne Road last week – even though they then had to settle for one point when they lost at bottom club Leicester.
The Aces are still without Max Fricke and Rohan Tungate due to injury, with Swindon’s Adam Ellis stepping in to guest as they look for a repeat of their win at the Hertfordshire venue earlier this season.
Rockets boss Peter Schroeck said: “We will be back to fielding a full team – and that is the key thing. It is never ideal to use guests or rider-replacement, but from here on in we will be fielding our full declared seven.
“The boys know what they have to do, and that they’ve got no choice. Dropping any more points at home is not an option.
“But they are also full of confidence. We are still up there battling for the play-offs, and with the line-up we’ve got, we are still capable of picking up more away points elsewhere.”
Belle Vue boss Mark Lemon said: “The Rockets have produced some interesting performances lately, some which came as a surprise and others where I’d have expected more, given the level of experience in their side.
“Of course it’ll be a challenge and we will no doubt miss Max and Rohan. But our boys have come through tougher test than this and I know they are fully capable of coming home with the win.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

KING’S Lynn host Leicester at the Adrian Flux Arena tonight (Wednesday) – in a match which could have a major bearing on the destination of the SGB Premiership wooden spoon.
The Stars are just five points outside the play-off places but are on a six-match losing sequence, and a further home defeat will see the Lions close in as the clubs battle to avoid the relegation race-off.
The visitors’ draw at Somerset on Monday means they are only five points behind the Stars going into the meeting, having taken five from their last two matches.
King’s Lynn have their full side available whilst Leicester call up Josh Grajczonek and Cameron Heeps to replace injured duo Kim Nilsson and Lasse Bjerre, with rider-replacement in operation for Pawel Przedpelski.
Home man Michael Palm Toft said: “There were positives for me in the last meeting against Somerset. I managed to avoid any last places which was a good thing, and I felt better around the track with finding the setup.
“Everyone at this level can ride fast around this track, so you can’t rely too much on overtaking and I’ll hopefully be getting quicker out of the starts.
“We’re taking a bit of time to get going with the new riders in the team, but hopefully we can start to do well and put a run together.”
Lions boss Jim Lynch said: “We said halfway through that we owed it to our fans at Leicester to have a better second half to the season.
“It’s been a wonderful start to that second half of the season, so we’re keen to keep that going as we go to King’s Lynn.
“We had a win on Saturday and a draw at Somerset on Monday and we’ve got plenty more teams in our sights.”

(SPEEDWAY 4)

BIRMINGHAM skipper Jack Parkinson-Blackburn has declared himself fit to race in tonight’s (Wednesday) key home fixture against Mildenhall.
The 16-year-old crashed out of his guest booking for Berwick at the weekend and left the track via ambulance - but x-rays confirmed nothing was broken and after a couple of days rest, the West Yorkshire racer insists he is good to go for an important showdown with the Fen Tigers at Perry Barr, as both teams look to reach the National League play-offs.
Elsewhere in the Brummies’ side, Richard Hall and Alex Spooner guest for David Mason and Kyle Roberts with rider-replacement in operation for the injured Tom Bacon.
Birmingham boss Graham Drury said: “We’re mightily relieved that Jack is going to be fit to take his place. He is a big part of the team this year and he brings a lot to the side off the track as well as on it.
“This is the first of seven crucial fixtures for us, five of which come in the next eight days and the majority are against teams who are also bidding for a play-off place.
“We not only need a win, but we could also do with sending Mildenhall home empty-handed.”
The visitors are at full strength having suffered a home defeat to Kent at the weekend, leaving them playing catch-up albeit with several matches in hand.
Co-promoter James Easter said: “There have been times this season when individuals have worked miracles to see us through after indifferent performances. Who can forget the amazing comebacks against Stoke and Eastbourne?
“Last Saturday, to be frank, our luck ran into the buffers. Both Danny Halsey and Connor Mountain were in a class of their own. Only an expensive and morale-busting engine collapse robbed us of a victory which in all honesty we did not deserve.
“We travel to Birmingham and Stoke this week with a realisation that reputations are easy ruined in the cold light of day and I sincerely hope better performances are given.”

(SPEEDWAY 5)

JUSTIN Sedgmen has declared himself ready to race through the pain barrier as Ipswich look to secure their place in the SGB Championship play-offs.
Sedgmen missed the Witches’ win at Scunthorpe last Sunday due to a long-standing shoulder injury and is set to see a specialist next week, but he intends to line up for the Foxhall club in a busy run of fixtures.
He said “My shoulder has been a bit of a nightmare and I've ridden in a lot of matches when I should have taken some rest. It hasn't been right since those crashes early in the season and I've had to now seek specialist help to find out what's going on.
“John McGuinness recommended a surgeon he's used in the past and I've spoken to him this week. I have an appointment for Monday morning and my hope is that we can get this fixed once and for all.
“We have three very important matches this week against Workington at home and both Edinburgh and Workington away. It's a crucial stage of the season and I want to play my part and score points for the team.”

(FIXTURES)

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 16:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: King’s Lynn v Leicester 7.30, Poole v Wolverhampton 7.30, Rye House v Belle Vue 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Birmingham v Mildenhall 7.30

THURSDAY AUGUST 17:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Swindon v Somerset 7.30
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Ipswich v Workington 7.30, Redcar v Glasgow 7.30, Sheffield v Newcastle 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Isle of Wight v Plymouth 7pm

FRIDAY AUGUST 18:
SGB PREMIERSHIP: Somerset v Swindon 7.30
SGB CHAMPIONSHIP: Edinburgh v Ipswich 7.30
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Birmingham 7.30, Plymouth v Kent 7.15

Results Monday August 14, 2017

SGB PREMIERSHIP
Somerset 42 (Josh Grajczonek 9)
Leicester 42 (Scott Nicholls 8+2)
Abandoned after 14 heats - Rain - RESULT STANDS
SGB Premiership points: Somerset 1 Leicester 2

Wolverhampton v King’s Lynn - OFF
Re-staging date: Monday September 4

TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE
Kent 45 (Jack Thomas 14)
Lakeside 44 (Ben Morley 15)